Method and apparatus for producing mixtures containing metal powder



June 20, 1933." A. F. M. RAGG 15,201

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MIXTURES CONTAINING METAL POWDER Filed Oct. 10. 1927' Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LPEONSE FRIEDRICH -HANFRED RAGG, WENTORF 1N HOLSTEIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB 0] ONE-HALF TO JOHN FRANK RAHTJEN, OF amma-012mm,

GERMANY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MIXTURES CONTAINING METAL Application fled October 10, 1927, Serial No. 225,877, and in Germany October 28, 1928.

It has heretofore been proposed to admix finely distributed metals, such as zinc, aluminuin or lead, with the other ingredlents of rust-preventin paints. The mixing operation, save in t e case where the production of metal powder is effected by condensing metal vapors, for instance zinc vapors, is diificult of performance, particularly when the metal is tough, e. g., in the case of lead and certain amalgams.

A known method of producing lead pigment consists in converting pieces of lead into a mixture of lead dust and low oxides of lead by subjecting such pieces to purely mechanical rubbing action by means of steel balls.

and similar disintegrating bodies within rotating drums at a temperature of 200 0., while air is blown there-against. This method has the serious objection that it proceeds very slowly, that it requires a considerable amount of power, and that the material pro- 4 duced is chemicall active so that it ignites spontaneously in t e air. According to another known method of producing metal powder, molten metal is mixed intimately with powdered inorganic material until the temperature of the mixture sinks below that of solidification of the metal, whereupon the removal of the admixture is effected by washing or by the aid of solvent. Metal powders which are produced in this way have been used particularly for soldering and metallizing purposes and in pyrotechnics.

Metal pigments which are intended to be used in rust-preventing paints should possess qualities which are never possessed by powders produced by the last'named method. It is demanded of rust-preventing pigments on the one hand that they have a maximum superficial area, and on the other hand they should not be too highly dispersed inasmuch as there is no guarantee of the solidification of the film of paint if too finely distributed. The large superficial area is a desid'eratum because not only does intimate contact with accelerated and the paint is prevented from deposition, decomposition and the like.

The metal powders used heretofore do not answer requirements, which are only done ustice to by a pigment which has a spongehke structure, so that the s aces between a non-metallic pigment are lled up by the metal, a conglomerate of metal and powder belng formed and! the internal surface being considerably increased. By this formation of conglomerates noxlous interspaces filled up by. oil or other vehi- 'cles, which is always more, or less water absorbing, are reduced to a minimum.

The formation of metallic conglomerates or sponges according to this invention is ob tained as follows: Molten metal is sprayed 1n a manner as known per 'se. The metallic dust, which consists of finely divided drops, is mixed with a solid powder and cooled at the same time. In this way a metal-containing sponge-like pigment is formed from the setting metal and the powder of a pigment, in which the particles of the admixed powder are united with the setting metal to a spongelike or coral-like conglomerate.

For producing pigments as described and suitable for anticorrosive purposes itv is, necessary: v

1. That the admixed powders or pigments which later on are to form an integral part of the paint are suitable to be used in anticorrosive. paints and not detrimental to the surface to be protected and that these powders or pigments are adapted to form conglomerates with increased internal surface f. i. oxides.

it is possible to produce in a single operation pigments of a spongy character and of such fineness thatthey can be directly used for painting purposes. It is understood that the term metal is used in a comprehensive sense to include not only metals in their elementary state, but also metallic alloys.

It is understood that the term metal is used in a comprehensive sense to include not only metals in their elementary state, but also metallic alloys.

adapted for the purpose.

The method described above may be carried out in a vacuum or in a neutral or reducing atmosphere or in an enclosed easing into which air is allowed to enter at a diminished rate or by degrees. In the latter instance superficial oxidation of the oxidizable metal takes place and the result will be a pigment consisting of'metal, oxides and an admixed powder. Since for certain purposes, for instance in the case of lead, the presence of a certain amount of low oxides is a desid eratum in rust-preventing paints, by regulating the admission of air or by introducing suitable liquids or gaseous reducing means mixtures may be produced which embody a percentage of low oxides.

The method is particularly well adapted for producing lead pigments. By the meth-.

od described metallic poisonous paints for the hulls of ships can also be produced, if molten copper amalgam is atomized and saturated in suitable foundations; moreover, pastes for storage batteries may be made by atomizing lead or lead oxide. Other ways of utilizing the method may suggest themselves. While the invention is not limited to the employment of any particular apparatus for atomizing the meta the apparatus described hereinafter. has been found well In the accompanying drawing apparatus adapted to carry out the invention is shown in vertical section.

Rotatably mounted within a cylindrical casing ais a stepped orizontal disk or dish?) on a vertical shaft 0. The disk or dish 6 is provided with a central cup (1 from which radial furrows e branch ofi.

preferably The cup Z as well as the furrows 0 ma be let into the disk b or maybe produced y cutting into the latter. The casing 11 is provided with a cover f on which rest. feet 9 of a vessel It adapted to be filled with molten metal or in which metal may be melted by the aid of a gas burner i. The bottom of the vessel 72. has a central outlet which may be closed by a valve is and from which pro jects downwardly a pipe 1 terminating Just above the cup (1 in the centre of the disc I). The flow of the molten liquid is re ated by the valve is, the spindle of which 1s screwed into the cover or top of the valve in and is provided at its upper end with means for rotating the valve s indle, for instance a crank m, to re late t e valve, so as to allow the metal to ow into the cup (1, either in a fine jet or in drops.

' At some distance from the centre a second vessel 0 is mounted on the cover or to f for the reception of the filling material, or instance a igment or the like, to be mixed with the me A'pipe p extends down from the vessel 0 into the casing a, ending just above a stepped part 9 of the disc 1). Below the rim of the disc b is an annular channel 1' into which projects or project. one or more scrapers 8 attached to the disc 6, whereby to convey any material that has been gathered in the channel 1' to the outlet 25. Means, for instance a gase burner u, is provided to heat the disc I).

The operation is as follows: 4

The vessel 72. is filled more or less with the metal to be distributed and the vessel 0 with a powdery material, for instance pigment, to be mixed with the metal. Before the valve 1: is opened by the crank m, powder from the vessel 0 is allowed to pass out by the pipe p to the stepped part 9 of the disc 6, while rotating, so as when the valve is is opened to allow molten metal to be introduced into the cup 12 and be distributed all round by the furrows e; then by the rotation of the disc I), the metal finds a certain amount of powder on the step g, with which it mixes, and by the continued rotation of the disc I) the mixture is forced to pass over the-rim of the disc I) and gather in the channel 'r, whence it is finally conveyed to the spout t, from which the material is taken away for further treatment. By way of example, on starting, 100 kilograms of lead are introduced into the vessel 72. and 20 kilograms of pigment, for instance zinc oxide, into the vessel 0. The speed of the rotating disc may be 1000 revolutions per minute.

Within the vessel 0 is an agitator y which ma be rotated by any well known means.

rom the top f of the casing a thermometer '2) may be suspended so that the temperature within the casing or above the disc may be read off from outside. Another pipe w may be provided for allowing neutral or reducing as to be fed into the casing when found a visable.

Instead of filling the vessel 0 with a powdery material, under certain circumstances, for instance when producing paints, a suitable oil, such as varnish or linseed oil or the like, may be used. The feed pipe p will preferably be arranged near the cold wall.

By the method described above it is pos-. sible to produce a pigment of such fineness as is required for painting purposes. The production ofsuch pigments is carried on in acontinuous run.

I claim 1. The method of producing metal containing pigments, comprising atomizing molten metal and projecting it against finely distributed solid ingredients adapted for ing pigments, comprising carrying out the steps of claim 1 in an atmosphere deterring oxidation.

3. A method of producing metal containing pigments comprising carrying out the step of claim 1 in a reducing atmosphere.

4. A method of producing pigments consisting of spongy conglomerate of finely divided metal with finely divided powdery material adapted for anticorrosive paints comprising melting metal, atomizing the molten metal by centrifugal force and causing it to come into contact with the said powdery material.

5. A method of producing metal containing pigments comprising atomizing molten metal by causing a jet of it to impinge against a rotating surface, thus centrifugally dispersing the metallic particles, and placing a finely divided solid material adapted for anticorrosive paints in the path of movement of the dispersed metal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALPHONSE FRIEDRICH HANFRED RAGG. 

